Once again, education gets short-changed in the State Budget for 2015. During the recession, the Legislature cut money for textbooks, desks, classroom supplies and buses. That $238 million loss has not been recouped, said Chuck Essigs, with the Arizona Association of School Budget Officials.

The Legislature again allocated no money for schools' capital needs — from building maintenance and repair to classroom supplies. The lack of money for textbooks and technology continues.

In 2008, the UA received two-thirds of its funding from the state. The current budget shows a failure by the state to prioritize higher education. Additional university funding for 2015 state budget is $4.5 million.